The phone in Joey’s office rang shrilly, startling her out of her work induced haze. She reached for the phone, and brought it to her ear. Before she could say anything, Jen’s voice came on the line, “Joey, you’ve got a guest. And he’s heading for your office right now.”

“A guest?” she repeated dumbly, her gaze traveled over her cluttered office a fresh batch of post-it notes hanging behind her door. “I’m not expecting anyone.”

“I know, Jo. It’s Pacey. And he just walked past my office...” Jen frowned slightly from her doorway, watching the good-looking baseball player make his way down the hall towards Joey’s office. Other members of the paper staff also watched with thinly veiled curiosity. Some of the men who knew who he was regarded him with something akin to awe.

Joey quickly searched for some place to hide in her office. “Tell him I’m not here!”

“It’s too late,” she said just as Pacey’s knock sounded on her door.

“Um, yeah, thanks...” She hung up the phone and looked around hopefully for an escape. Her voice cracked nervously. “Uh, who is it?”

“It’s me.” He turned the handle on the door and pushed it open. His plane from Florida had landed a mere half hour ago, and he looked tired and travel weary, his hair was mussed and his clothes wrinkled. The lines in his face faded though as his eyes landed on her. She was a welcome sight.

Her heart lurched and she began to straighten out the top of her desk. “Um, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.” He said quietly, closing the door behind him without taking his eyes off her.

“Why?” She adjusted the picture of Dawson on her desk twice.

“I missed you.”

All the air left her body. “Pacey, please don’t do this.”

“You didn’t even tell me you were leaving.” He stepped further into the room.

“I--I didn’t really have the time.”

“You should have told me. I would have stopped you, Joey.” He frowned sadly.

“I wouldn’t have stayed.”

He flinched, “Give me another chance, Jo. Please?”

She raised her gaze from the top of her desk. “Why?”

“Because I--I’m miserable without you.” Those three little words wouldn’t move past his lips, no matter how badly he wanted to say them.

Her brown eyes clouded almost imperceptibly and she looked away. “Get out.”

“No, Joey. Please, just listen to me.” He touched her arm.

She froze. “Just go. Leave me alone.”

He released a ragged breath. “I’ll say it, Joey. I will.” He promised her as he pulled out an envelope and put it on the corner of her desk. With that done, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, then turned and left, closing the door softly behind him.

Joey was still right where he left her when Jen knocked on her door a few minutes later. She managed a weak sounding. “Come in.”

“Are you okay?” She asked, her eyes widening at the desolate look on her friend’s face.

“I don’t know why he just won’t leave me alone,” Joey said after a moment.

“You obviously mean a lot to him.” Jen said quietly, moving over to her tall friend and giving her a quick hug. “What did he say?”

“He wants another chance.”

“But...?”

Joey sighed. “It’s a little too late for that.”

Jen titled her head sadly to the side, “What happened in Florida, Joey? How is it possible for him to have hurt you so badly?”

“I--I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Maybe if you did, you’d feel better.” She gestured back to the door, “If this was any indication, he’s not going to give up.”

Joey frowned. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Why can’t you give him another chance?”

“For my own sanity.”

Jen sighed, “I guess that’s as good a reason as any.”

“Right.”

“What’s this?” The blonde asked, picking up the envelope she had accidentally knocked to the floor.

She shrugged distractedly. “I don’t know.”

“Did he leave it?”

She rubbed her temples. “I think so.”

“Are you going to open it?” Jen waved the envelope.

“Later. Probably.”

“God, I hate seeing you like this.”

Joey looked at her startled. “What? Like what?”

“So...wounded. Heartbroken. Empty. Depressed. Pick an adjective.”

“I am nothing like that.”

“You aren’t?” Jen gazed at her friend skeptically.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re hurting. Because of him.” Jen frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest, the envelope still in hand. “Want me to castrate him for you?”

She laughed lightly. “Thanks, but that’s okay.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Okay,” she handed Joey the envelope, “Now open it before I die of curiosity.”

Joey shook her head. “No. You open it.”

“Ya sure?” Jen asked, already ripping the envelope open.

“Yes.”

With nimble fingers, she pulled out two tickets, and the short note that accompanied them. Jen scanned the tickets, “These are right behind the dugout.”

Joey stared at them with confusion. “Oh?”

“For the opening game,” Jen handed her the tickets and unfolded the note, reading it to herself.

She gazed at the tickets in her hand plainly. “I don’t want them.”

“I think you should go, Joey.” She handed her the note.

“Why?” she questioned as she took the note from Jen and scanned it. Please come.

“What harm could it be?”

“I hate baseball.”

“But you don’t hate Pacey.”

She sighed knowing Jen had a point.

“There are two tickets. I could go with you if you want,” she suggested lightly. “I was going to go anyway to cover the game, but I can sit with you instead of in the press box.”

She smiled. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”

“No problem,” she gave her friend’s hand a soft squeeze. “What are friends for?”